N. Illinois 38, W. Michigan 3

 

VIDEO PLAYLIST

• Spann Leads Northern Illinois To 38-3 Win

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Team Stat Comparison
1st Downs	15	20
Total Yards	251	390
Passing	178	135
Rushing	73	255
Penalties	1-9	6-30
3rd Down Conversions	5-14	6-14
4th Down Conversions	1-2	1-1
Turnovers	4	0
Possession	23:07	36:53

Air/Ground Leaders
Western Michigan Passing   C/ATT YDS TD INT Hiller 18/35 176 0 3 Arnheim 1/1 2 0 0	Northern Illinois Passing   C/ATT YDS TD INT Harnish 9/15 135 1 0
Western Michigan Rushing   CAR YDS TD LG West 14 54 0 12 Burdi 1 14 0 10	Northern Illinois Rushing   CAR YDS TD LG Spann 22 132 3 20 Brown 15 88 0 26
Western Michigan Receiving   REC YDS TD LG White 6 81 0 39 Arnheim 5 49 0 15	Northern Illinois Receiving   REC YDS TD LG Palmer 2 41 1 33 Skarb 1 33 0 33

Scoring Summary
FIRST QUARTER				WMU	NIU
	TD	10:31	Nathan Palmer 33 Yd Pass From Chandler Harnish (Mike Salerno Kick)	0	7
SECOND QUARTER				WMU	NIU
	FG	14:13	John Potter 40 Yd	3	7
	TD	07:53	Chad Spann 1 Yd Run (Mike Salerno Kick)	3	14
	TD	01:17	Chad Spann 20 Yd Run (Mike Salerno Kick)	3	21
THIRD QUARTER				WMU	NIU
	TD	13:28	Chad Spann 5 Yd Run (Mike Salerno Kick)	3	28
	FG	03:59	Mike Salerno 22 Yd	3	31
FOURTH QUARTER				WMU	NIU
	TD	14:47	Jake Coffman 79 Yd Interception Return (Mike Salerno Kick)	3	38

DEKALB, Ill. -- Chad Spann rushed for three touchdowns while quarterback Chandler Harnish threw for another on Saturday as Northern Illinois opened its Mid-American Conference season with a 38-3 victory over Western Michigan.

The Huskies (3-2, 1-0) never trailed after opening the game with a 74-yard scoring drive. Harnish and wide receiver Nate Palmer combined on a 33-yard touchdown play.

Spann, who rushed for 132 yards on 22 carries, scored on runs of 1 and 20 yards in the second quarter.

On the opening play of the third quarter, strong safety Patrick George intercepted Western Michigan quarterback Tim Hiller and returned the ball 32 yards to the Bronco 12. Two plays later, Spann scored his third TD and 10th of the season on a 5-yard run.

Western Michigan (2-3, 1-1) was limited to a 40-yard John Potter field goal in the second quarter.